Kaylan Rumbo on for Jason Pusey
Jamie Currer on for Andrew Hernandez
Paul Podesta on for Robert Montovio

United come into the game on the backs of a very poor performance versus Mons Calpe last time out. Supporters will hope that the manager takes a more positive approach to today’s match and let our attacking players showcase their talents against a St Joseph’s side we have yet to get a point off in our 3 previous encounters. With Carl Thomas leaving the club by mutual consent, Erin Barnett shifts to right back and Aymen moves into a more familiar centre half role. Ashley Perez is recalled and so are the Hernandez brothers back after U19 duties and injury respectively.

United came out with a totally different mentality to that exhibited against Mons Calpe. We attacked more in the first 5 minutes of the game than we had in the 90 against Mons. The ball was being moved around confidently and adroitly and StJ’s found themselves on an unexpected back foot. Supporters in the stands were relieved to see that the manager seemed to have changed his tack and removed the shackles from the team. Cue the 8th minute of the match. A darting St Joseph’s counter from the left had exposed our defence. Brad was covering the St Joseph’s attacker whose speed blind sided him. He grappled the attacker and threw him to the ground as he was preparing to shoot. Mr Warwick had no choice but to correctly show Brad red as he had denied a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Any offensive flame was hitherto extinguished as United sought to restructure after going to 10 men. But as is common in football a numerical disadvantage is often a catalyst for a dogged and solid performance. As it was the 10 men held for 15 minutes as Romero gave St Joseph’s the lead with a well taken shot. Chino was the busiest of the keepers, yet not as busy as one could expect considering United’s numerical handicap. As the first half drew to a close St Joesph’s had had the goal and one other clear chance but little else as play had degenerated into a midfield slog.

With Currer and Rumbo coming on at half time United started spritely enough, actually dominating possession and keeping the ball in their opponents half. Yet no chances were being created. Jamie Bosio was having a blinder in midfield doing the job of two players while at the same time spurring his team mates on. A similar job was being done by Erin Barnett, who by now had shifted to center half. Anthony Hernandez was trying to find that spark of magic to create a chance but we were having no luck. Instead it ws St Joseph’s that looked the more dangerous on the break with Borja on the left wing in particular. Chino was forced into two spectacular saves to keep the match alive as United ploughed on looking for an opening.

Jamie Bosio, candidate for United’s Man of the Match.

A flaking Montovio was replaced by Podesta, who had impressed last time out. Yet the breakthrough did not come. As the match came to its concluding moments it was United that had the ball but lacked the penetration or indeed luck to trouble Jordan Perez in the blue and white goal.

1-0 seems a good result considering the 80 minutes United played with 10 men against a very good St Joseph’s side. Supporters saw a better performance than against Mons and thw ability to take games to our opponents is there. Our next two games versus Lynx and Lions will hopefully provide the opportunites for that attacking flair to exhibit itself.

Paul Podesta on for Carl Thomas
Andrew Hernandez on for Aymen Mouehli
Kaylan Rumbo on for Evan Green

Premier Division football resumes after the recent Internationals and Gib Utd face a familiar foe in Mons Calpe SC. United remain unbeaten versus their opponents today after meeting and beating Mons 3 times during the Second Division Championship season in 2014/15 but the 2016 version of Mons Calpe is currently the surprise package of the Division sitting joint top and unbeaten so far. Anthony Hernandez is still missing through injury so Evan Green makes his first appearance of the season with Manolo seeking his pace to supplement Robert’s movement up front. Jamie Currer returns in the left wing back role with Ashley Perez dropping to the bench. Elsewhere its as we where with young Tyron ‘Tiger’ Oton making his first appearance in a call up with the subs keeper berth on the bench.

United suffered a very bad day at the office with Mons Calpe deservedly taking the 3 points home in a match that saw United show very little attacking intent until the dying moments of the game. That said Mons had two chances for their goals and little else. United started the match looking to their solidity to hold Mons’ dangerous forward ‘Pibe’, formerly of Glacis United. As is becoming the norm, United gifted possession to their rivals relying instead on their strengths at the back to provide counter attacks.

As it was Mons had plenty of the ball but little penetration to bother Chino with. The first goal when it came was the antithesis of what United stand for. A darting run was covered by Chino. A deft dink over the keeper left the ball in the 6 yard box with two of our defenders to cover the line and the ball. A catalouge of errors left the ball at the feet of Di Piedi to tap in unexpectedly among the perplexed look of our defenders. Their second goal, courtesy of Otero came with a free header from the penalty spot from a corner. United went in 2-0- down at half time with nothing to show in terms of attacking intent other than the incessant running and chasing down of Evan Green.

Evan was joined by half time substitute Paul Podesta who changed the dynamic of the team somewhat. He gave our attack a focal point and he was impeccable in the air winning every ball that came his way and also winning the physical battle too. Testament of this is the fact that two of Mons’ defenders started to pick him up and our first chances were to come due to his fighting spirit. Evan Green was provided with a gilt edged chance from about 10 yards out. Following good work from Paul and Robert he found himself in space but with ball falling to his weaker left foot he drilled his shot wide at a time when United were putting Mons under the cosh.

The first 20 minutes of the second half showed that when this team shows attacking intent it can hurt and bring damage to bear on its opponents. The question is why wait? With ‘Pishu’ Hernandez coming on for Aymen United’s left wing saw the best of our forward play with Currer, Hernandez and Podesta harrassing the Mons right back Dos Santos. Little work however for the Mons keeper was created. It was Mons instead who were gifted a 3rd goal when the whole of the defence just stood still to give Cascio enough time to lob the ball over ones head and rifle the ball past Chino.

The last act was to fall to Jamie Bosio, who gave his all in the heart of the midfield; getting booked but receiving little protection from the ref. Half falling over he lobbed the Mons keeper from just outside the 6 yard box to open his account with the club i a spectacular manner. Little consolation but United supporters in the stands will expect a more ambitious approach from the manager int he games to come.

With a break in the league due to International games the focus of several of our squad members is squarely on internationals. Four of our squad were called up by Mr Wood to the Gibraltar National Team. These being regulars Robert Montovio, Jamie Bosio, Erin Barnett and debutant Ashley Rodriguez. Ashley’s is a well deserved call up as he was one of the most in form midfielders in last years Premier Division. Anthony Hernandez and Chino were also initially called up but the former dropped out due to injury and the latter was somewhat controversially left out of the final cut. A surprising move seeing as Chino gets regular game time and has started the season in excellent form.

The Gibraltar Under 19 squad has also been in action with ‘Pishu’ Hernandez being called up for three qualifiers being played in Albania. Though the Seniors had games away versus Estonia and at ‘home’ against Belgium, the Under 19s had a difficult qualifying group with the likes of Germany, Republic of Ireland and Albania. So far Andrew has played both games versus Germany and the Republic which Gibraltar has lost by the identical scoreline of 5-0.

The senior side travelled to Estonia to face a team Gibraltar had drawn 1-1 against in 2014. Hopes were high of getting a result and for 45 minutes Gibraltar gave an excellent account of themselves with Jamie Bosio starting the match and having a very good game partnering Lincoln’s Anthony Bardon in center midfield. However, Gibraltar’s weaknesses were to come and haunt us. A customary early second half goal undid a lot of the good work of the first 45 minutes and nerves began to creep in. The final score of 4-0 to the home side is somewhat flattering but the difference in performances in either half by the away side were abysmal.

Gibraltar leave for Estonia

Robert and Jamie on their way to the A Le Coq Stadium

The Under 19s have one more match against Albania on Monday 11th October while the senior squad face a Belgium side in Faro that is full of world class players that ply their trades in the top leagues across the Continent. We hope some more of our players get some game time and hope they all return home free of injury and ready to face Mons Calpe SC.

Kaylan Rumbo on for Naoufal El Andalussi
Andrew Hernandez on for Ashley Perez

Match day 2 sees Gib Utd square up versus perennial champions Lincoln in the last league match before the International break. Manolo opted for a more defensive formation dropping Pishu Hernandez to the bench and adding more steel into the midfield by starting Mouehli as a defensive midfielder in a 5-1-3-1 formation. Anthony has injured himself in training this week and may likely miss the upcoming International games. Ashley Perez and Naufal El Andalussi make their first starts of the season in place of the aforementioned Pishu and Jamie Currer. Buoyed by the performance against Man 62 but aggrieved at the officiating in said game, Gib Utd’s players are seeking an improvement in their last performances against Lincoln who come into the game after putting Lynx to the sword 5-0 last time out.

As was to be expected Lincoln were to dominate the possession stats. United’s solid defensive organisation however was to prove firm and difficult to break down despite the quality in Lincoln’s side. It was to be our Achilles’s Heel, a corner, that allowed Lincoln to get in their first goal 17 minutes in. In form Joseph Chipolina found himself with the ball at his feet after clearing a crowded area and he had no hesitation to drill it past his International colleague Chino. Credit however to the team who did not crumble as in these fixtures last year and quickly resumed their lines to carry on giving Lincoln a hard time of it.

Joseph Chipolina charges into the box. Photo courtesy of JDK Photos.

Chino was called into action a number of times before half time as he denied Lee Casciaro and Roy Chipolina with solid saves and keeping the score at 1 nil as Mr Warwick blew for half time.

It was more of the same with Lincoln attacks breaking on the Gib Utd bulwark. Defensively very sound, but little going forwards. Little that is until Montovio made a play down one wing leaving Casciaro in his wake. Carl Thomas burst a gut on the other wing to find himself in space. Robert squared him the ball but the full back blasted over the bar with only the keeper to beat. Several minutes later however the diminutive George Cabrera found himself in space amid our defensive towers and was able to head in a Chipolina cross past Chino and into the net to settle the game at 2-0.

Robert runs past Ryan Casciaro. Photo courtesy of JDK Photos.

A 2-0 defeat versus a Lincoln side that annihilated us last season is good evidence of the solid progress our squad is making. There is no doubt that Lincoln were made to work hard for this victory and United’s players left the field with their heads held high as these tweets from Jamie Bosio and Ashley Perez testify.

Hard fought performance from the @GibraltarUnited boys, never threw in the towel and battled until the end ⚽️🔴⚪️